An eternity filled with fun and enjoyment awaits those who qualify for Islam's paradise. Paradise, also called ‘Gardens’ (the place where some Muslims will be in the hereafter), is the item that, together with Jihad (holy war), receives the most attention in the Quran. It is discussed here because it is the reward or price that Allah pays for those who fight for his cause, Surah 9:111:
“Lo! Allah hath bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the Garden will be theirs: they shall fight in the way of Allah and shall slay and be slain.” (Pickthall, 1997:137)
See also Dawood’s (1999) rendering:
“God (Allah) has purchased from the faithful their lives and worldly goods, and in return has promised them the garden. They will fight for the cause of God (Allah); they will slay and be slain.” (See also Chapter 11: iii Jihad)
It is a place where sensual pleasures such as eating, drinking and sex are the main ingredients. As already mentioned, Jihad is the only certain way to be admitted to paradise. This may explain the fact that men are the most privileged in Islam’s paradise. It must be borne in mind that for every man in paradise there will be at least 72 virgins. It is not clear whether these virgins are the women who qualified for paradise while on earth. If a man, regardless of his age on earth, can be changed into a man of thirty to thirty-two years of age in paradise, why can’t a married woman on earth be changed into a virgin in paradise? There is, however, this poor consolation for women that, although they will be in groups of at least 72 (virgins), the men will each have the sexual ability of one hundred men. An additional ‘advantage’ is that:
“In spite of prolonged intercourse, no child will be born“ (Karim, 1998(Vol.4):161)
Women are not only the majority in Islam’s paradise, but also in Islam’s hell. According to Sahih-Al-Bukhari’s compilation of the Hadith (Khan, 1987:28,301(Vol.1) & 2:161) Mohammed said the following:
“I was shown the hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women”
In the Quran, there are at least 82 references to this paradise or gardens, where Muslims who qualified for it will be forever. Only some are quoted here:
Surah 2:25: “And give glad tidings (O Mohammed) onto those who believe and do good works; that theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow; ...There for them are pure companions; there for ever they abide.” (Pickthall, 1997:6)
Surah 37:42-45, 48 mentions that for the pure there will be: “Fruits (delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity, in Gardens of Felicity (bliss, happiness), facing each other on raised couches (of dignity); ...And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).” (Ali, 2000:398)
Surah 38:50-52: For the faithful there will be: “Gardens of eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them; therein they will recline (at ease): therein can they call (at pleasure) for fruit in abundance, and (delicious) drink; And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, (companions) of equal age.” (Ali, 2000:409)
Surah 44:52, 54: Those who did their duty shall be: “Among gardens and springs; So; and We (Allah) shall join them to Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.” (Ali 2000:451)
Surah 47:15: “A description of the Garden which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of water unstaling (sic.); rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear. And there are for them all kinds of fruits;” (Ali, 2000:462)
Muslims are not allowed to drink wine here on earth (no. 9 on the list of 53 serious sins, mentioned before), but in paradise it is permissible. More promises by Allah:
Surah 52:17, 19, 20: “As to the righteous, they will be in Gardens, and in happiness, ... (To them will be said:) ‘Eat and drink with good pleasure because of your (good) deeds.’ They will recline (with ease) on couches (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We (Allah) shall wed them to maidens, with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes.” (Ali, 2000:484)
Surah 55:70, 72, 74, 76: “Wherein (are found) the good and beautiful - ...Fair ones, close-guarded in pavilions - ...Whom neither man nor jinni (spirit) will have touched before them - ...Reclining on green cushions and fair carpets” (Pickthall, 1997:390).
According to Ali (2000:496) the maidens are “restrained in pavilions.” One wonders why these beautiful maidens are 'restrained' and ‘close-guarded in pavilions’. Are they held against their will? Is it not 'paradise' for them also? Are they only objects for men's pleasure? If this is true, then it certainly cannot be the reward of women who lived a good life on earth.
Surah 56 gives the following explanation of what awaits those whose good deeds were sufficient to get them into paradise:
“There wait on them immortal youths” (v. 17) “And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes, Like unto hidden pearls” (v. 22,23), “We (Allah) have created them a (new) creation and made them virgins, lovers, equal in age.” (v. 35-37) (Pickthall, 1997:391)
There are too many examples to quote, but let us have a look at what the Hadith says about this matter. In Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:23:44(Vol.2):358) the Prophet Mohammed said of those who take part in Jihad:
“...the Messenger of Allah said: There are six virtues of a martyr near Allah. At the first shedding of blood he is shown his place in Paradise, he is protected from the punishment of grave, he is kept safe from the great catastrophe, a crown of glory will be put upon his head, one jewel of which is better than the world and what is therein, he will be married to seventy two wives of large dark eyed virgins”
In Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:42:36(Vol.4):175) the Prophet said:
“The lowest of the inmates of Paradise (in rank) will have eighty thousand serveat (sic.? Probably ‘servants’) and seventy two wives, and a tent of pearls, emeralds and jewels will be pitched up for him”
How will a man be able to cope with so many wives? The Prophet's answer to this question is (Karim, 1998:42:24(Vol.4):169):
“the Holy Prophet said: The believer will be given such and such strength in Paradise for sexual intercourse. It was questioned: O Prophet of Allah can he do that, He said: He will be given strength of one hundred persons.”
There is no balance here, because each man will have the sexual ability of 100 men, but only 72 wives. Surely, a man would wish at times that he had 28 more wives.
The reader should bear in mind that these pleasures will last forever. What man, who really believes this, will not be prepared to give his life in Jihad for this?